The WNBA All-Star Game returns to Chicago this weekend, giving the city another chance to show off as one of the country's premier sports destinations.

Why it matters: Chicago becomes the center of the women's basketball world this weekend, with thousands of visitors, national TV exposure and another boost to the city's growing sports tourism industry.

State of play: The WNBA has exploded in popularity since Chicago last hosted the game in 2022, fueled by stars including Caitlin Clark, A'ja Wilson and former Sky standout Angel Reese.

What they're saying: "Marquee live sports events like the WNBA All-Star Weekend are major drivers of both visitation and visibility for Chicago, and sports tourism generates over a billion dollars in economic impact for our city annually," the Chicago Sports Commission's Kara Bachman tells Axios.

Flashback: The atmosphere of the game will be dramatically different from when Chicago last held it, says Sarah Spain, host of the podcast "Good Game With Sarah Spain."

• "The WNBA is more popular than ever, and Chicago gets the chance to play host to live shows, conferences, events and parties featuring the very best current and former players, legends of the game, celebrities, music artists and top-notch journalists," Spain says.

Yes, but: While Chicago gets the spotlight, the hometown Sky head into the break after another disappointing first half.

• The team traded Reese in the offseason and sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
• Off the court, Skylar Diggins publicly questioned her reduced role before landing on the injured list with a knee injury, while the team's long-promised practice facility continues to face delays.

If you go: It's not just the game. There are several events all over the city this weekend. "If you didn't get an invite to a party or two yet, you better ask someone who knows someone," Spain says. "This weekend is gonna be absolutely crawling with ways to have a good time."

👀 Go deeper: Look out for tonight's Weekender for a full list of events. It hits your inbox at 6:30pm.

Send to a fan

Derrick Rose has earned his first solo NBA 2K cover, fronting the Ultra Edition of the video game NBA 2K27.

Why it matters: NBA 2K cover athletes are among basketball's biggest stars and cultural icons.

The latest: Rose will appear on the Ultra Edition, while San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama fronts the Standard Edition and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark appears on the Deluxe Edition.

What they're saying: "During my journey, there have been coaches who believed in me, teammates who made me better, and fans who showed up louder than I ever expected. So, this is a chance to inspire young athletes to stay obsessed with the game," Rose said in a press release.

Zoom out: Rose has continued to receive major honors since retiring, including having his No. 1 jersey retired by the Bulls earlier this year.

State of play: The honor is likely to reignite debate over whether Rose belongs in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

By the numbers: Rose played 16 years in the NBA and was the youngest MVP in league history when he won in 2011.

• The injuries prevented him from returning to MVP form, and he spent the latter half of his career in supporting roles with several teams, including the Knicks, Timberwolves and Grizzlies.

When you can get the game

A Gold Coast condo building long known as the "phantom building" is getting new life after sitting mostly vacant for decades.

Why it matters: Historic buildings in Chicago's highly sought-after neighborhoods, especially vacant ones, often succumb to the wrecking ball to make way for single-family homes. But the 45,000-sq. ft. residential building called The Dearborn has managed to avoid that fate and is starting a new chapter.

The big picture: Chicago developers Altitude Capital Partners closed on the property at 1447 N. Dearborn Pkwy. in March for $10 million.

Catch up quick: Once a 50-room long-term-stay hotel, Chicago developer John Brown purchased the brick and limestone courtyard building in 1990, according to Crain's.

• Under his ownership, Brown later converted it into condos and renovated the building in fits and spurts. It sat mostly vacant during those years, often piquing the interest of neighbors and dog walkers.

What they're saying: "It's limited supply in a great neighborhood. Several of our buyers are from out of state. Chicago is a good value even at these price points," Altitude's Brian Dohman tells Axios.

By the numbers: Those price points? Listing prices range from $2.5 to $4 million.

More about the phantom building

Mexico is taking legal action to seek accountability for the deaths of 17 Mexican nationals who died during ICE operations, including Silverio Villegas González who was fatally shot in Franklin Park last year. (WBEZ)

🍿 New 400 Theater in Rogers Park is opening on July 31, three years after it closed. (Block Club)

🍦 Viral frozen yogurt startup Mikono is pausing operations at the Pilsen storefront where it started selling last Monday, citing huge demand. Mikono hopes to open a permanent shop in Lincoln Park. (Sun-Times)

👋 Hey, it's Justin! I looked back through the archives and realized I started this "Survey Says" feature this week a year ago. That's a full year of surveys!

Breaking news: It's time to put this database into action! We have a date for the live game show we're calling "Chicago Knows Best." It'll be at 8pm on Sept. 3 at The Hideout.

• It will be more than a raucous party with special guests, comedians and musicians. It's also our 5th anniversary!
• You read that right: In September, we're turning 5 years old!

Details: Tickets go on sale next week. If you're an Axios Chicago member, you'll get first crack at buying them.

This week's survey: It's all about sweet, sweet candy. After all, Chicago was once the candy capital of the world.

Take the candy survey here